Flight Delay
Compensation Eligibility
Check flight delay compensation eligibility for delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights. You may be owed up to €600 per passenger.
Check Your Flight Delay Compensation Eligibility
You may be owed up to €600 if your flight arrived three or more hours late. Claim windows vary by country.
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Flight Delay Compensation Eligibility: A Practical EU261 Guide for 2026
Disclosure: CDH Travel may earn a commission if you start a claim through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Few travel problems feel as frustrating as landing hours late with no explanation. Under European air passenger rules, many delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights qualify for cash compensation, but the rules are specific. This guide explains flight delay compensation eligibility in plain language, shows what you may be owed, and outlines how to check your own flight before you file.
Who Qualifies: Flight Delay Compensation Eligibility Under EU261
EU Regulation 261/2004, known as EU261, protects passengers on flights departing from an EU airport. It also covers flights arriving in the EU when the airline is based in the EU. The UK applies a similar rule, UK261, with amounts paid in pounds. For a delay, the key test is arrival time. You generally qualify when you reach your final destination three or more hours late, on a confirmed booking, after checking in on time.
How Much Compensation You Can Claim
The amount depends on the flight distance, not on the ticket price:
- €250 for flights up to 1,500 km.
- €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and for longer flights within the EU.
- €600 for other flights over 3,500 km.
Compensation is paid per passenger, so a family of four may claim four times. Airlines can halve the amount when they reroute you and you arrive only slightly late.
When Airlines Do Not Have to Pay
Airlines do not owe compensation when extraordinary circumstances caused the disruption and could not have been avoided. Examples include severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, security risks and some strikes by outside staff. Routine technical faults are generally not treated as extraordinary, so a late departure caused by an aircraft problem can still qualify. The airline must show that the circumstances applied, so a refusal is not always the final word.
Refund vs Compensation: Know the Difference
These are separate rights. A refund returns your ticket price when a flight is cancelled, or when a very long delay of five hours or more makes you decide not to travel. Compensation is an additional payment for the disruption. You may also be entitled to meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation while you wait, whatever the cause. Keep every receipt.
Documents to Gather Before You Claim
- Your booking confirmation and boarding pass.
- The scheduled and actual arrival times for your flight.
- Emails, texts or app messages from the airline about the disruption.
- Receipts for meals, transport or hotels you paid for.
How to Check Flight Delay Compensation Eligibility Step by Step
- Confirm that your departure airport or airline falls under EU261 or UK261.
- Note the delay at your final destination, not at departure.
- Estimate the distance band to see the likely amount.
- Review the reason the airline gave and whether it was truly outside its control.
- Check the time limit in your country, which commonly ranges from two to six years.
- Submit your claim to the airline, or run your flight through an eligibility checker first.
Claim Directly or Use a Claim Service?
You can always write to the airline yourself at no cost. Claim services handle the paperwork and follow-up, but they usually keep a percentage of any compensation they win, so read the fee terms before you agree. If a claim is rejected, you can escalate it to the national enforcement body for air passenger rights in the country where the disruption happened.
Delays are easier to handle with a plan. Many airport transfer services monitor flight times, and travel insurance can cover costs that EU261 does not, such as missed pre-paid tours.
Why You Can Trust This Guide
This guide is written by Francis R. Rivera of CDH Travel, a travel planning resource covering hotels, car rentals, transfers, tickets, insurance and activities. It summarizes the rules in plain language, and we review it when regulations change. Always confirm details in the official text of Regulation 261/2004, on the European Commission's air passenger rights page, or with your airline before you file.
Flight Delay Compensation Eligibility FAQs
Is a three-hour delay enough to claim?
Usually yes, if it is measured at your final destination and the cause was within the airline's control.
Can I claim for a connecting flight?
Yes, when both flights were on one booking and you reached your final destination three hours or more late.
How long do I have to claim?
Time limits depend on the country whose law applies and commonly range from two to six years, so claim as early as you can.
Do I need to pay to check my flight?
Eligibility checkers like the one on this page are free to use. Any fee applies only if a claim service recovers money, so confirm the percentage first.